Your kitchen drain often bears the brunt of food waste, and it’s easy to overlook what we put down it. However, certain food items can cause significant clogs and damage, leading to costly repairs and headaches you could’ve easily avoided. Keeley’s Plumbing, the local expert in drain cleaning in Glen Ellyn, IL, lists some food items that should never end up in kitchen sink drains.
Grease and Oils
Grease, fats, and oils might seem harmless in liquid form, but once they cool, they solidify and stick to the walls of your pipes. This buildup can eventually cause serious blockages. What’s more, it can be difficult to completely remove grease and oil with just hot water and soap, necessitating expert methods like hydro jetting to clear them out. Always dispose of cooking oils, bacon grease, and other fats in a container you can throw away in the trash.
Coffee Grounds
Despite their small size, coffee grounds can accumulate and clump together in your pipes, leading to stubborn clogs. Instead of rinsing them down the drain, consider adding coffee grounds to your compost pile or disposing of them in the waste bin.
Eggshells
Eggshells are another surprising offender when it comes to a clogged drain. Their sharp edges can snag on other debris in your pipes, contributing to blockages. The membrane inside the shell can also stick to the pipes, causing additional problems. It’s best to toss eggshells in the trash or compost them.
Pasta and Rice
Pasta and rice expand when they come into contact with water, even after they’ve been cooked. This can result in swollen masses that block your drain. You can always count on us to carry out professional drain cleaning services at any time, but to prevent the problem altogether, scrape leftover pasta and rice into the trash before washing your dishes.
Fibrous Vegetables
Vegetables like celery, asparagus, and corn husks are fibrous and stringy and can tangle up in your drain. The fibers can catch other waste, leading to bigger clogs. Composting these vegetables is a much safer option.
Instead of letting various food scraps go down your kitchen sink and potentially wreak havoc on your drains, support a good environmental cause by participating in Glen Ellyn’s residential curbside composting program. This initiative aims to help reduce the amount of food waste that ends up in landfills, but it can also serve as a way to help keep your drains clear and functional.
Some items accepted for composting include fruits and vegetables, pasta, bread, table scraps, coffee grounds, tea leaves, eggshells, and dairy. However, remember to avoid putting any meat, poultry, or fish. Homeowners can participate on a voluntary subscription basis. If you’re interested in joining the program, check out the official village website to find and accomplish the sign-up form.
Keeley’s Plumbing is the top local drain cleaning company you can rely on to keep your residential drains in tip-top shape. We have the experience, tools, and expertise to deal with any clog or blockage. Plus, we are available 24/7 to cater to all your plumbing concerns. Contact us today or fill out our online form to request a service visit.